International NGOs: Climate change is bigger than politics

Tuesday, 8 August 2017, 9:49 am
Press Release: Generation Zero

Tuesday 08 August 2017

International NGOs: Climate change is bigger than politics

Youth organisation Generation Zero is celebrating the call by a coalition of International NGOs for all political parties to come together after the election and support a Zero Carbon Act. On Saturday, in a letter addressed to members of parliament, the coalition outlined the urgent need for climate legislation.

The letter, signed by 14 international development agencies, including Oxfam NZ, Engineers without borders NZ, UNICEF, World Vision, Tearfund, and Amnesty International, highlighted New Zealand’s responsibility to act; “For the sake of [these] vulnerable women, men and children, we – as a well-resourced developed nation – have a responsibility to act in a bold and meaningful manner.”

It calls for the next parliament to support a Zero Carbon Act with binding targets, measures and accountabilities to reduce NZ’s domestic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to net zero by 2050 and transparently deliver on New Zealand’s international climate change obligations.

Generation Zero launched a detailed blueprint for the Zero Carbon Act in April, alongside a petition to the next New Zealand Parliament.

“Climate change is happening now, it is affecting all of us – our Pacific neighbours, people living in poverty, our communities and our businesses here in New Zealand,” said Lisa McLaren, national convenor for the Zero Carbon Act campaign.

“The Zero Carbon Act aims to secure a positive future for our children – protecting our communities, businesses and people across the globe.”

“Young people in particular overwhelmingly back stronger action, as we’ve seen with support from youth across the political spectrum. We are the ones who will live with the consequences of what we do about climate change today - our elected representatives need to listen to them and come together to pass the Zero Carbon Act,” said Miss McLaren.

Following the UK’s groundbreaking Climate Change Act, climate legislation have been introduced across a range of countries, including Denmark, Finland, Mexico and Ireland as well as states and provinces in the US, Canada and Australia.

The Zero Carbon Act campaign is already backed by Forest & Bird, Oxfam New Zealand, WWF-New Zealand, ActionStation and others. Together the groups are running petitions which will be delivered to the next Parliament after the election.

What you can do

Sign the petition - http://www.zerocarbonact.nz/signon/

Volunteer with Generation Zero - http://www.generationzero.org/zca_volunteer

Donate to the campaign - https://generationzero.nationbuilder.com/donate_zero_carbon_act

ENDS

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